Chair back



Jan. 2, 1940. E. TODD Er 2,185,758

CHAIR BACK Filed March 14, 1938 21 Edwin 1 Todd flvev'f CHdll Jdgmiwu/ a i Eig Patented Jan. 2, 1940 STATES AT NT FOF B" 01mm BACK Edwin T. Todd and Herbert C. Hall, Grand Bapids, Mich" assignors to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 14, 1938, Serial No. 195,691

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to chair backs and more particularly to chair back rests for chairs especially adapted for use in motor buses, aeroplanes, railway coaches and the like.

The primary objects of the instant invention are to provide a chair back rest for a chair whose oppositely disposed sides are each provided with a relatively stifi marginal portion projecting forwardly of the front side of the chair back; to provide such a back rest which is attractive in appearance; to provide such a back rest which is comfortable when the chair is occupied; and, to provide such a back rest which is reasonably economical in manufacture.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the chair back rest;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view thereof; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 3--3 of Figure 1. Referring then to the drawing wherein like parts of the construction shownare designated by the same numerals in the several views, a back rest for a chair for motor buses, aeroplanes, railway coaches or the like, comprises a pair of oppositely disposed spaced parallel rails, each here shown as formed of two parts It, ll secured together in any suitable manner and all as best shown in Figure 3. Each rail is provided with a longitudinal forwardly stepped portion l2 along its inner length and with a longitudinal stepped portion [3 along its outer length on the back side thereof.

A compressible element M of sponge rubber or other suitable material is disposed within each longitudinal forwardly stepped portion I2 of each rail and a fabric sheet l5 disposed between the spaced parallel rails and whose opposite lengths each cover the front surface of a compressible element, is stretched thereover and secured along its opposite lengths as by tacks to a rail for compressing each compressible element 14 and distorting it as shown in Figure 3.

A padded member I6 of hair or any other suitable material is disposed between the spaced parallel rails, the opposite lengths thereof each covering a compressible element l4, and an up-- holstered sheet l'l disposed over the front surface of the padded member i6 is secured to each rail within the stepped portion l3 along its opposite lengths in any suitable manner as by tacks.

An upholstered sheet l8 for the rear surface of the chair back is stretched over and stitched to the fabric sheet l5 and is secured along its opposite lengths to a rail within its stepped portion I3 as by tacks. An inverted U-shaped frame member l9, here shown as tubular in form has each of its legs disposed within a stepped portion l3 of a rail which legs each cover the secured marginal lengths of each upholstered sheet IS.

A head cushion may be provided if desired, the particular construction of which is immaterial so far as the instant invention is concerned but it will be seen that the back rest herein shown and described has oppositely disposed relatively stiff forwardly projecting marginal portions 2| formed by the compressed sponge rubber elements which make for comfort when the chair is occupied and which chair back is attractive in appearance and relatively economical in manufacture.

While but one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that certain details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as the same is defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a chair back rest, a pair of oppositely disposed spaced parallel rails, each having a longitudinal forwardly stepped portion along its inner length, a compressible element disposed within each stepped portion, a padded member disposed between the spaced parallel rails whose opposite lengths each cover a compressible member, and an upholstered sheet disposed-over the front surface of the padded member and whose opposite lengths are each stretched over an outer rail to which each length is secured.

2. In a chair back rest, a pair of oppositely disposed spaced parallel rails, each having a longitudinal forwardly stepped portion along its inner length, a compressible element disposed within each stepped portion,a padded member disposed between the spaced parallel rails whose opposite lengths each cover a compressible member, an upholstered sheet disposed over the front surface of the padded member and whose-opposite lengths are each stretched over an outer rail to which each length is secured, and an upholstered sheet disposed over the back surface of the padded member and whose opposite lengths are each stretched. over an outer rail to which each length is secured.

' 3. In a chair back rest, a pair of oppositely disposed spaced parallel rails, each having a longitudinal forwardly stepped portion along its inner length, a compressible element disposed within each stepped portion, a fabric sheet disposed between the spaced parallel rails whose opposite lengths each cover the front surface of a compressible elementand to each of which rails a length of the fabric sheet is secured in stretched relation for compressing each compressible element within the stepped portion of its rail, a padded member disposed between the spaced parallel rails whose opposite lengths each cover a compressible element, and an upholstered sheet disposed over the front surface of the padded member and whose opposite lengths are each stretched over an outer rail to which each length is secured.

4. In a chair back rest, a pair of oppositely disposed spaced parallel rails, each having a longitudinal forwardly stepped portion along its inner length, a compressible element disposed within each stepped portion, a fabric sheet disposed between the spaced parallel rails whose opposite lengths each cover the front surface of a compressible element and to each of which rails a length of the fabric sheet is secured in stretched relation for compressing each compressible element within the stepped portion of its rail, a padded member disposed between the spaced parallel rails whose opposite lengths each cover a compressible element, an upholstered sheet disposed over the front surface of the padded member and whose opposite lengths are each stretched over an outer rail to which each length is secured, and an upholstered sheet disposed over the back surface of the fabric sheet and whose opposite lengths are each stretched over an outer rail to which each length is secured.

5. In a chair back rest, a pair of oppositely disposed spaced parallel rails, each having a longitudinal forwardly stepped portion along its I inner length and each having a longitudinal stepped portion along its outer length on the back side thereof, a compressible element disposed within each longitudinal forwardly stepped portion, a padded member disposed between the spaced parallel rails whose opposite lengths each cover a compressible element, an upholstered sheet disposed over the front surface of the padded member and whose opposite lengths are each stretched over an outer rail to which each length is secured, and an inverted U-shaped frame member whose legs are each disposed within a stepped portion of the back side of a rail.

6. In a chair back rest, a pair of oppositely disposed spaced parallel rails, each having a longitudinal forwardly stepped portion along its inner length and each having a longitudinal stepped portion along its outer length on the back side thereof, a compressible element disposed within each longitudinal forwardly stepped portion, a padded member disposed between the spaced parallel rails whose opposite lengths each cover a compressible element, an upholstered sheet disposed over the front surface of the padded member and whose opposite lengths are each stretched over an outer rail to-which each length is secured, an upholstered sheet disposed over the back surface of the padded member and whose opposite lengths are each stretched over area-no lel rails whose opposite lengths each cover the front surface of a compressible element and to each of which rails a length of the fabric sheet is secured in stretched relation for compressing each compressible element within the stepped portion of its rail, a padded member disposed between the spaced parallel rails whose opposite lengths each cover a compressible element, an upholstered sheet disposed over the front surface of the padded member and whose opposite lengths are each stretched over an outer rail to which each length is secured, and an inverted U-shaped frame member whose legs are each disposed within a stepped portion of the back side of a rail.

8. In a chair back rest, a pair of oppositely disposed spaced parallel rails, each having a longitudinal forwardly stepped portion along its inner length and each having a longitudinal stepped portion along its outer length on the back side thereof, a compressible element disposed within each longitudinal forwardly stepped portion, a fabric sheet disposed between the spaced parallel rails whose opposite lengths each cover the front surface of a compressible element and to each of which rails a length of the fabric sheet is secured in stretched relation for compressing each compressible element within the stepped portion of its rail, a padded member disposed between the spaced parallel rails whose opposite lengths each cover a compressible element, an upholstered sheet disposed over the front surface of the padded member and whose opposite lengths are each stretched over an outer rail to which each length is secured, an upholstered sheet disposed over the back surface of the fabric sheet and whose opposite lengths are each stretched over an outer rail to which each length is secured, and an inverted U-shaped frame member whose legs areeach disposed within a stepped portion of the back side of a rail.

9. In a chair backrest, a pair of oppositely disposed spaced parallel rails, each having a longitudinal right angular recess along its inner length, a normally cross-sectionally rectangular compressible element disposed within each recess, a padded member disposed between the spaced parallel rails whose opposite lengths each cover a compressible member, and an upholstered sheet disposed over the front surface of the padded member and'whose opposite lengths are each stretched over an outer rail to which each length is secured.

EDWIN T. TODD. HERBERT C. HALL. 

